Card games

ABSTRACT

A card game in which a dealer deals a hand of cards to each player(s) and each player having the option of sticking with the dealt cards or drawing additional cards until the player sticks or busts. Irrespective of the number of cards dealt to a player, before proceeding to the next player, the dealer deals at least one continuation card in respect of the player&#39;s hand, until the total value of that player&#39;s hand equals or exceeds the specified maximum value. After all the players have played their hands, the dealer draws additional cards, until the dealer either sticks or the value of the dealer&#39;s hand equals to or exceeds the specified maximum. The dealer loses the hand based upon a comparison of a total value of the hands of the remaining player(s) hand and the dealer.

The present invention relates to card games and in particular Blackjack, twenty-one and similar games, in which the object of the game is to achieve a hand, the total value of the hands based in the sum of the values of each card in the hand being greater than the total value of a dealer's hand, the total value being equal to or less than a specified maximum typically 21.

When playing Blackjack each player is initially dealt two cards, the player then has the option to draw additional cards until the total value of the cards in his hand is equal to or exceeds 21. Conventionally the dealer will deal additional cards to each of the players until the player “sticks” or the value of the players hand is equal to or exceeds 21. A decision of a player to stick before the value of his hand is equal to or exceeds 21 will affect the cards, if any, that are subsequently drawn by the dealer when playing his hand.

This possibility of affecting the dealer's hand may lead to tactical play by the players if they think that by sticking or drawing they may adversely affect the chances of the dealer to the advantage of the other players, even if they themselves may not benefit. Such tactical play may enhance the enjoyment of the players, provided that the players are experienced and they are all aware of the tactics involved. However when inexperienced players are involved their lack of knowledge may spoil the enjoyment of the more experienced players and may put pressure on the inexperienced players.

Moreover such tactical play will be detrimental to the Houses' odds, so that the House is not able to offer other incentives for example in the form of enhanced pay-outs or side bets, which may otherwise add to the general appeal of the game.

An object of the present invention is to remove the possibility of the players affecting the cards, if any, that are eventually drawn by the dealer.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a card game in which the object of the game is to achieve a hand, the total value of the hand based on the sum of the values of each card in the hand, being greater than the total value of a dealer's hand, the total value being equal to or less than a specified maximum, comprises;

-   -   a dealer dealing a hand of one or more cards to one or more         players;     -   the or each player, in turn, having the option of;         -   sticking with said one or more cards;         -   drawing one or more additional cards, until             -   the player sticks; or             -   the total value of the players hand is equal to or                 exceeds the specified maximum value; the player losing                 the hand if the total value of his hand exceeds the                 specified maximum;     -   irrespective of the number of cards on which the player has         stuck, before proceeding to the next player, the dealer dealing         one or more continuation cards in respect of the player's hand,         until the total value of the player's hand equals or exceeds the         specified maximum value;     -   the dealer dealing a hand of one or more cards to himself;     -   after all the players have played their hands the dealer drawing         additional cards until the dealer sticks or the value of the         dealer's hand is equal to or exceeds the specified maximum;         -   the dealer losing the hand to the players stuck on a total             value equal to or less than the specified maximum if the             dealer's total value exceeds the specified minimum;         -   where the total values at which both the players and the             dealer have stuck are equal to or lower than the specified             value;             -   the dealer losing the hand to the players whose total                 value is higher than the dealer's total value; and             -   the players losing the hand to the dealer where the                 player's total value is lower than the dealer's total                 value.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, by continuing to deal cards to each of the players after the player has stuck it is not possible for the players to affect the cards, if any, that are subsequently drawn by the dealer.

In accordance with one embodiment of this aspect of the game conventional house rules specify that the dealer must draw if the value of his hand is below a specified minimum value and must stick if the value of his hand is equal to or above the specified minimum value.

For Blackjack the specified maximum value of the players' and dealer's hands is conventionally 21, although variations may be played using other maximum values. In Blackjack the dealer's minimum value on which he may stick is conventionally 17.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a card game in which the object of the game is to achieve a hand the total value of the hand based in the sum of the values of each card in the hand being greater than the total value of a dealer's hand, comprises;

-   -   a dealer dealing a hand having a set number of cards to one or         more players, said hand comprising one or more cards which are         initially exposed and one or more additional draw cards which         are only exposed at the option of the player;     -   the or each player, in turn, having the option of;         -   sticking with said one or more cards initially exposed;         -   exposing one or more additional draw cards, until             -   the player sticks; or             -   the total value of the player's hand is equal to or                 exceeds a specified maximum value; the player losing the                 hand if the total value of his hand exceeds a specified                 maximum; or             -   the additional draw cards are all exposed;     -   the dealer dealing a hand of one or more cards to himself;     -   after all the players have played their hands, the dealer         drawing additional cards until the dealer sticks or the value of         the dealer's hand is equal to or exceeds the specified maximum;         -   the dealer losing the hand to the players stuck on a total             value equal to or less than the specified maximum, if the             dealer's total value exceeds the specified minimum; or         -   where both the total value of the player's hand and the             total value of the dealer's hand are equal to or lower than             the specified value;             -   the dealer losing the hand to the players whose total                 value is higher than the dealer's total value; and             -   the players losing the hand to the dealer, where the                 player's total value is lower than the dealer's total                 value.

Again, in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, as the maximum number of cards that may be used by each player is dealt before the dealer's hand is played, the actual number of cards used by each player cannot affect the cards drawn by the dealer.

According to one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the dealer's hand may be played in conventional manner, there being no limit on the number of cards used. In this case, conventional house rules which specify that the dealer must draw if the value of his hand is below a specified minimum value and must stick if the value of his hand is equal to or above the specified minimum value, the specified minimum value on which the dealer may stick for Blackjack is conventionally 17.

According to an alternative embodiment of this aspect of the invention the dealer's hand may be limited to the same maximum number of cards as those dealt to the players. With this embodiment, if the value of the dealer's hand is below a specified minimum value the dealer will lose to any player with a hand the value of which is equal to or above the specified minimum value and if both the player's and dealer's hands or below the specified minimum value the hand is pushed. Alternatively any hand including the maximum number of cards may be considered of equal rank irrespective of the total value.

The invention will now be described in greater detail in the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention in a game of Blackjack each of the players wishing to participate in the game will place a bet.

The dealer will then deal two cards face-up to each of the players participating and one card face-up to himself.

Each player in turn then has the option of: —

-   -   sticking on the two face up cards; or     -   drawing one or more additional cards dealt by the dealer from         the pack until the player sticks or the total value of the         players hand is equal to or exceeds 21;         the object of the game being to achieve a hand the total value         of which is 21 or less and which is greater than the total value         of the dealer's hand. If the total value of the players hand         exceeds 21 then he busts and loses the hand, forfeiting his bet         to the dealer.

When a player sticks with a total value less that 21, the dealer will then deal continuation cards to an area separate from the players hand until the total value of the player's hand plus the continuation cards is equal to or exceeds 21.

The dealer then proceeds to the next player.

After all of the players have stuck or bust the dealer then plays his hand in accordance with the house rules. Typically in accordance with house rules the dealer must draw if the total value of his hand if less than 17 and must stick on 17 or more.

If the total value of the dealer's hand exceeds 21 then the dealer will bust losing the hand to each player with 21 or less.

If both the player and the dealer have 21 or less then the one with the higher total will win.

If both the player and dealer have equal totals of 21 or less then the hand is drawn and the bet is pushed.

Variations commonly used in Blackjack may also be included. For example, if a player is initially dealt two cards of the same value the player may split the cards and play two hands, the player placing a bet similar to his initial bet, on the second hand. Also, while bets will normally be paid at evens, enhanced odds, for example 3:1, may be paid if the player has Blackjack (21 with two cards).

EXAMPLE 2

In an alternative version of Blackjack, in accordance with the present invention, each player places a bet to signify his participation in the game.

The dealer will then deal five cards to each player, the first two cards face up and the remaining three cards face down; and one card face-up to the dealer's hand.

Each player, in turn, then has the option of:

-   -   sticking on the two face up cards; or     -   drawing one or more of the three face down cards, taken in turn,         until the player sticks or the total value of the player's hand         is equal to or exceeds 21;         the object of the game being to achieve a hand the total value         of which is 21 or less and which is greater than the total value         of the dealer's hand. If the total value of the player's hand         exceeds 21 then he busts and loses the hand, forfeiting his bet         to the dealer.

After each player in turn has played his hand in the manner described above and has either stuck or bust, the dealer then plays his hand, drawing additional cards, up to a maximum of five cards in total in his hand. The dealer must draw cards up to the maximum of five, if the total value of the dealer's hand is below 17 and must stick if the total value of the dealers hand is 17 or greater. If the total value of the dealers hand exceeds 21 he busts and loses the hand to all the players with 21 or less.

If the dealer finishes with a five card hand totaling less that 17 then the dealer will lose to any player with a total value from 17 to 21 and will push any bet with a player having a total value of 16 or less.

If both the player and dealer have a total value between 17 and 21 then the one with the higher total will win.

If both the player and dealer have an equal total between 17 and 21 then the player's bet is pushed, except when both the player and dealer have 21 and one of them has Blackjack, when the Blackjack will win.

According to a variation of this embodiment any five card hand is considered to be of equal rank second only to Blackjack irrespective of the total value of the hand. According to this variation, a five card hand of 21 or less will beat any other hand apart from Blackjack (a two card 21) and if both the dealer and player have five card hands, then the player bet is pushed, irrespective of the totals.

According to a further variation, the dealer may not be restricted to a maximum of five cards, but being required to continue to draw further cards until the total value of his hand is 16 or less; and stick when the total value of his hand is 17 or more. With this variation a five card hand would be considered solely on the total value and not the number of cards.

According to a further variation more or fewer that five cards may be dealt to each player.

According to a further variation if the first two cards dealt face-up to a player are of the same rank then the second of these cards is replaced by the next card in the deck until two cards of different rank are dealt. An exception to this may be made if the two cards are a pair of fours, a pair of fives or any/or a pair totaling 20. This change of cards is in accordance with house rules the player having no choice in the matter.

As with the previous example other variations conventionally used in Blackjack or similar games may be included in addition or as alternatives to the above variations where appropriate.

While the examples describe forms of Blackjack the invention may be applied to any game in which a player has a choice of drawing further cards which may affect the cards, if any, subsequently drawn by the dealer.

The game or any variation thereof may be played in electronic form, by Remote betting, on the world wide web, on the internet, on a local area network of remote network. 

1. A card game in which the object of the game is to: achieve a hand, the total value of the hand based on the sum of the values of each card in the hand being greater than the total value of a dealer's hand, the total value being equal to or less than a specified maximum, comprising; a dealer dealing a hand of one or more cards to one or more players; the or each player in turn having the option of; sticking with said one or more cards; or drawing one or more additional cards, until the player sticks; or the total value of the player's hand is equal to or exceeds the specified maximum value; total value of the player's hand exceeds the specified maximum then the player busts losing the hand; irrespective of the number of cards on which the player has stuck, before proceeding to the next player, the dealer dealing one or more continuation cards in respect of the player's hand, until the total value of the player's hand equals or exceeds the specified maximum value; the dealer dealing a hand of one or more cards to himself; after all the players have played their hands, the dealer drawing additional cards, until the dealer sticks or the value of the dealer's hand is equal to or exceeds the specified maximum; the dealer losing the hand to the player's stuck on a total value equal to or less than the specified maximum, if the dealer's total value exceeds the specified minimum; where the total values at which both the players and the dealer have stuck are equal to or lower than the specified value; the dealer losing the hand to the players whose total value is higher than the dealer's total value; and the players losing the hand to the dealer, where the player's total value is lower than the dealer's total value.
 2. The card game according to claim 1 in which the specified maximum value is
 21. 3. The card game according to claim 1 in which the dealer must draw if the total value of the dealer's hand is below a specified minimum value.
 4. The card game according to claim 2 in which the dealer must stick if the total value of the dealer's hand is equal to or above a specified minimum value.
 5. The card game according to claim 3 in which the specified minimum value is
 17. 6. The card game according to claim 1 in which each player is initially dealt two cards, the player having the option of drawing additional cards.
 7. The card game according to claim 6 in which if the two cards initially dealt are of the same value, the player has the option to split the two cards into two separate hands.
 8. A card game in which the object of the game is to achieve a hand, the total value of the hand based in the sum of the values of each card in the hand being greater than the total value of a dealer's hand, comprising; a dealer dealing a hand having a set number of cards, to one or more players, said hand comprising one or more cards which are initially exposed and one or more additional draw cards which are only exposed at the option of the player; the or each player, in turn, having the option of; sticking with said one or more cards initially exposed; exposing one or more additional draw cards, until the player sticks; or the total value of the players hand is equal to or exceeds a specified maximum value; the player losing the hand if the total value of his hand exceeds a specified maximum; or the additional draw cards are all exposed; the dealer dealing a hand of one or more cards to himself; after all the players have played their hands, the dealer drawing additional cards, until the dealer sticks or the value of the dealer's hand is equal to or exceeds the specified maximum; the dealer losing the hand to the players stuck on a total value equal to or less than the specified maximum, if the total value of the dealers hand exceeds the specified minimum; or where both the total value of the player's hand and the total value of the dealer's hand are equal to or lower than the specified value; the dealer losing the hand to the players whose total value is higher than the dealer's total value; and the players losing the hand to the dealer, where the player's total value is lower than the dealer's total value.
 9. The card game according to claim 8 in which the specified maximum value is
 21. 10. The card game according to claim 8 in which the dealer deals five cards the each player, the first two cards exposed and the remaining cards to be exposed at the option of the player.
 11. The card game according to claim 10 in which, if the first two cards dealt to a player are a pair of the same rank, the second card is replaced by the next card in the pack, until a card of different rank is dealt.
 12. The card game according to claim 10 in which, if the first two cards dealt to a player are a pair of the same rank, other than a pair of fours, a pair of fives or a pair totaling 20, the second card is replaced by the next card in the pack, until a card of different rank is dealt.
 13. The card game according to claim 8 in which there is no limit on the number of cards that the dealer may draw.
 14. The card game according to claim 13 in which the dealer must draw if the total of the dealer's hand is below a specified minimum value.
 15. The card game according to claim 13 in which the dealer must stick if the total of the dealer's hand is equal to or above a specified minimum value.
 16. The card game according to claim 14 in which the specified minimum value is
 17. 17. The card game according to claim 8 in which the dealer is limited to the same number of draw cards as the players.
 18. The card game according to claim 17 in which if the total value of the dealers hand is below a specified minimum value, then the bet of any player with a hand value below the minimum value will be pushed.
 19. The card game according to claim 17 in which any hand comprising the maximum number of cards with a total value equal to or less than the specified maximum value, will be considered of equal value, irrespective of the total value of the hand.
 20. The card game according to claim 19 in which the specified maximum is 21, any hand comprising the maximum number of cards with a total value of 21 or less, will be beaten only by a two card
 21. 